Capacity building is key to establish sound climate change adaptation processes, as well as for framing adaptation within development goals. This is particularly significant in Community-Based Adaptation (CBA), where empowering communities is fundamental in order to strengthen their capacity to face climate shocks. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play a major role for the development of climate change adaptation strategies. Particularly, ICT can be employed in five different levels: • Observation: data collection at global, national and local level; • Analysis: data and capacity sharing, as well as interpretation of possible climate change scenarios and system mapping; • Planning: design of community-based adaptation initiatives. • Implementation and management: translation of adaptation strategies into action, networking with stakeholders at every level and human/natural resources management. • Capacity building: awareness raising, advocacy, training and formal education programmes. Finally, to capitalise the full potential of ICT as a driver for community action, every intervention should be formulated within the Communication for Development (ComDev) framework. A two-way bottom-up and top-down communication system is critical for facing climate change related issues, therefore ComDev is essential to foster community participation, build on local resources and knowledge sharing among different stakeholders.

3. ICT in CCA Functions and applications INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Record data and information Transform data and information into knowledge Broadcast & Communicate Information and Knowledge Observation Analysis Planning Capacity Building Networking Implementation & Management

5. ICT in Climate Change Adaptation Main elements and process Observation Analysis Planning Implementation & Management Capacity Building Networking Policy makers Institutions NGOs Local institution & Communities Stakeholders at all levels Researchers at global-national level

6. Towards a ComDev approach for ICT application in CBA Observation Analysis Planning Implementation & Management Capacity Building Networking Facilitate participatory problem analysis and adaptation planning Empower local people to take control of their adaptation processes Promote local information networks Link rural knowledge and information systems Help integrate indigenous and scientific knowledge Ensure information flows among concerned groups Facilitate the translation of uncertainty into policies Facilitate data collection at local level